Last night it emerged that the Government had agreed to close its final three decentralised offices.

These are: the FAS office in Birr, Co Offaly; the Equality Tribunal in Portlaoise, Co Laois; and the Department of the Environment in Tubbercurry, Co Sligo. Just short of 90 staff members from those offices will be relocated.

The move came following the announcement in November last year that 40 decentralisation projects would be axed completely, 32 would remain, and 22 projects would be reviewed.

It is understood that the closure of the three offices is the result of that review and it was signed off on by the cabinet on Tuesday.

The remainder of the 51 decentralised offices will remain in place permanently.